Cutter-wrench



April 11, 1967 J. K. SHANNON 3,312,988-

CUTTER-WRENCH Filed May 5, 1965 I I2 I07 I C MU W 3 F I Q 2 7 36 mm, mm.

JOHN SHANNON United States Patent 3,312,988 CUTTER-WRENCH John K.Shannon, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Quick Cable Corporation, Racine,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,786 4Claims. (Cl. 7-5.3)

This invention relates to a cutter-wrench combination tool which isparticularly adapted for making cables having terminals on the endsthereof, for replacing old terminals, and for securing the terminals toconnectors.

The cutter-wrench combination tool of the present invention isparticularly applicable for making cables of the type used onautomobiles, trucks, buses and the like to make connections between thebattery and the remaining electrical system. The cable used is generallyheavy gage and well protected with insulation so that it is capable ofhandling large currents and is protected from acid or fumes which wouldcause it to erode. Consequently, the cable is relatively diflicult tocut and a sturdy pair of cutters is normally required. Also, to makegood electrical connection thereto, the insulation must be removed. Caremust also be taken in removing the insula tion so that bare cable is notexposed. After having cut the cable to the proper length and removingthe insulation, a terminal is secured thereto, generally by crimping theend of the terminal to provide a tight grip with the cable. Theterminal, or terminals, is then secured to a connector such as athreaded post having a nut or a battery terminal. In the past, theseoperations were normally performed using a cutter to cut the cable, astripper of some kind to remove the insulation, a pair of pliers tocrimp the ends of the terminals and a wrench to secure the terminal tothe connector. It is therefore apparent that it would be particularlyadvantageous to have one tool which could perform each of theoperations.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide acutter-wrench combination tool capable of performing each of theabove-described operations in making a cable and connecting the same toa connector.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cutterwrenchcombination tool which is sturdy in construction, yet relativelyinexpensive to manufacture. It is further contemplated that thecutter-wrench combination tool be easy to operate.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The above objectives are accomplished with the cutterwrench combinationtool of the present invention which generally resembles a pliers havinga pair of legs pivotally secured to one another in a fashion such as toprovide a jaw area between one end of the legs which can be used to gripan object therebetween, by applying pressure to the opposite ends of thelegs which form a pair of handles. One of the legs at its handle portionis formed with a semi-circular cut-out adapted to partially restrain acable therein and the other leg at its handle portion is formed with acutting edge along a portion of its length in working relationship withthe above mentioned cut-out so that a cable restrained within thecut-out can be cut by applying pressure to the handles to force themtogether.

The insulation can also be removed, using the same cutout and cuttingedge, by placing the cable in the cutout and forcing the cutting edgedownward until the insulation is cut through. The tool is then rotatedabout the cable, to provide a cut about its peripheral edge, and theinsulation strip off.

The jaw area of the tool, as will be described more fully hereinafter,is formed so as to provide a hex-shaped wrench for securing the terminalto a connector and to "ice provide a crimper for securing the terminalto the cable.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a cutter-wrench combination toolexemplary of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view illustrating how the tool of FIG. 1 is used to cut acable and/ or to strip the insulation therefrom;

FIGURE 4 is a view illustrating how the tool of FIG. 1 is used as awrench; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional View taken through the cutter portion ofthe tool.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. 1 a cutterwrench combination tool10 exemplary of the present invention is shown as having a pair of legs12 and 14 which are pivotally secured to one another in overlyingrelationship by means of fastening means 16 which may be a bolt and nut,as shown. The leg 12 has a portion 18 which is enlarged in widthadjacent the fastening means 16 and a substantially semi-circularportion 20 which forms one-half of the jaw area 21 of the tool 10. Asection of the enlarged portion 18 is tapered, as may be best seen inFIG. 5, by grinding it, to provide a cutting edge 22. The edge 24 of thesemi-circular portion 20 forming the jaw area 21 is shaped so as topartially correspond to the shape of a hex-shaped nut or the like.

The leg 14 has a semi-circular shaped cut-out 26 adjacent to and inworking relationship to the cutting edge 22 formed in leg 12. The end ofthe 'leg 14 is generally enlarged and circular in shape and has a slot28 formed therein which has two parallel side edges 29 and 30 and twoend edges 31 and 32 that are angled inwardly and joined. The edges 29-32of the slot 28 in conjunction with the edge 24 of the semicircularportion 20* form a substantially closed hex-shaped wrench when thehandles 12 and 14 are closed, as illustrated in FIG. 4. A hexshaped nut34 can therefore be securely gripped in-the jaw area 21 of the tool 10,with relatively little danger, if any, of the tool slipping off of it.

When the handle portions of the legs 12 and d4 are forced toward oneanother to a greater extent than that shown in FIG. 4, the jaw areafunctions as a pliers to allow the tool 10 to be used to crimp the endof a terminal tightly against a cable to secure the terminal thereto. Anupwardly extending stop 36 can be provided to limit the degree ofcrimping, to prevent damage to the terminal.

To cut a cable 38, it is placed in the semi-circular cutout 26 formed inthe leg 14 and the two legs 12 and 14 squeezed to force them together.The cut-out 26 prevents the cable 38 from sliding away from the cuttingedge 22, hence the cable 38 can be easily cut.

To strip the insulation from a cable, the cable is placed in the cut-out26 in the same fashion as described above when the cable is to be out.The legs 12 and 14 are only squeezed suificiently to cause the cuttingedge 22 to cut the insulation, but not the cable. When the insulationhas been cut through, the tool 10 is rotated about the cable to cut theinsulation about the periphery of the cable. Once cut it can be easilystripped off of the cable. It may be noted that this technique providesa clean cut about the cable so that no jagged edges are left on theinsulation and the insulation is therefore less likely to beaccidentally stripped off of the cable.

From the above detailed description, it is apparent that thecutter-wrench combination tool is a very versatile tool and providesnumerous advantages which heretofore were only obtainable from a numberof tools which function for only a single purpose.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A cutter-wrench combination tool for cutting a cable and the like,for stripping the insulation from the cable, for securinga terminal tothe cable and for securing the terminal to a connector comprising: apair of legs pivotally secured to one another in overlying relationship;a cutting edge formed on one of said legs in close proximity to thepivotal connection point, cable retaining means formed in the other oneof said legs in a position such that said cutting edge will engage acable to out said cable and to cut and strip the insulation from saidcable when it is retained by said cable retaining means and said pair oflegs are pivoted with respect to one another to a first and a secondpivotal position, respectively; a slot formed in the end of one of saidlegs which is adapted to receive a predetermined shaped fastener, saidslot having two parallel side walls and two end walls which are angledtoward one another; an edge of the end of the other one of said legs issubstantially U-shaped and adapted to substantially enclose and to clampsaid fastener within said slot when said pair of legs are pivotallyforced toward one another to thereby securely grip said fastener thereinto prevent movement and slippage.

2. A cutter-wrench combination tool for cutting a cable and the like,for stripping the insulation from the cable, for securing a terminal tothe cable and for securing the terminal to a connector comprising: apair of legs pivotally secured to one another in overlying relationship;a cutting edge formed on one of said legs in close proximity to thepivotal connection point, cable retaining means formed in the other oneof said legs in a position such that said cutting edge will engage acable to out said cable and to cut and strip the insulation from saidcable when it is retained by said cable retaining means and said pair oflegs are pivoted with respect to one another to a first and a secondpivotal position, respectively; a slot having a pair of parallel sidewalls formed in the end of one of said legs for receiving apredetermined shaped fastener; an edge of the end of the other one ofsaid legs being substantially U-shaped, the base of said U coincidingwith one of said parallel side walls to substantially enclose and toclamp a fastener within said slot when said legs are pivotally forcedtoward one another to thereby securely grip said fastener therein toprevent movement and slippage.

3. The cutter-wrench combination tool of claim 2 wherein said cableretaining means comprises a semicircular shaped eut-out formed in saidleg.

4. The cutter-Wrench combination tool of claim 3 further including stopmeans on one of said legs which is engaged by the other one of said legsto limit the degree to which said legs are pivotally forced toward oneanother.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,964 3/1873Bradbooks 75.6 287,159 10/1883 Poole 7--5.3 1,293,696 2/1919 Bush 814252,868,049 1/1959 Radcliffe 7-5.6 X

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, 1a., Assistant Examiner.

1. A CUTTER-WRENCH COMBINATION TOOL FOR CUTTING A CABLE AND THE LIKE,FOR STRIPPING THE INSULATION FROM THE CABLE, FOR SECURING A TERMINAL TOTHE CABLE AND FOR SECURING THE TERMINAL TO A CONNECTOR COMPRISING: APAIR OF LEGS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO ONE ANOTHER IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP;A CUTTING EDGE FORMED ON ONE OF SAID LEGS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEPIVOTAL CONNECTION POINT, CABLE RETAINING MEANS FORMED IN THE OTHER ONEOF SAID LEGS IN A POSITION SUCH THAT SAID CUTTING EDGE WILL ENGAGE ACABLE TO CUT SAID CABLE AND TO CUT AND STRIP THE INSULATION FROM SAIDCABLE WHEN IT IS RETAINED BY SAID CABLE RETAINING MEANS AND SAID PAIR OFLEGS ARE PIVOTED WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER TO A FIRST AND A SECONDPIVOTAL POSITION, RESPECTIVELY; A SLOT FORMED IN THE END OF ONE OF SAIDLEGS WHICH IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PREDETERMINED SHAPED FASTENER, SAIDSLOT HAVING TWO PARALLEL SIDE WALLS AND TWO END WALLS WHICH ARE ANGLEDTOWARD ONE ANOTHER; AN EDGE OF THE END OF THE OTHER ONE OF SAID LEGS ISSUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED AND ADAPTED TO SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSE AND TO CLAMPSAID FASTENER WITHIN SAID SLOT WHEN SAID PAIR OF LEGS ARE PIVOTALLYFORCED TOWARD ONE ANOTHER TO THEREBY SECURELY GRIP SAID FASTENER THEREINTO PREVENT MOVEMENT AND SLIPPAGE.